Cotton-harvester.



127x851. a f

L W.CI\IV|P BEL|..- CGTTON HARVESTER'.

APPLICATION FILED IML-9. I9I5.

- Patented Sept. 3,1918.

a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l` STATES' PATENT OFFICE..

LEoN wat CAMPBELL, or rosroxt nr'AssAcnsE'r'rs.

I TofaZZ. whom it mag/"concern: j

LEON W. CAMPBELL, a

" Be it known. that I,

l citizenof4 the United States, residing at Bosvesters, of which the following ton, countyfof Suffolk, vCommonwealth `of AMassachusetts, have invented certain new.

and useful Improvements in Cotton-Haris a specification.-

This invention relates to harvesters and particularly toa machine for harvesting. cotton.

The mechanical harvesting of cottonl has been rendered particularly difficult by the factthat the cotton plant does not admit of any but the most delicate, careful handling.

'Most machines as have been heretofore de-.

vised have been open to the objection that in i use they frequently damaged the"cotton hand.

"plants As a result, a large percentage of the lcotton crop is .today still picked by To the end therefore of providing a cotton harvester which will pick the cotton wlthout injuring the plant and without Vsac- 'rificing anything 'of efiiciency and speed to the requirement for careful han'dlingof the plant, I have devised my present invention.

Inthisinvention, the'cotton is pickedbyan arrangement lof picker stemgangs Whichare mounted on a rotating carrier and successively lower amongthe plants. Thegangs rotate about a horizontal axis and .normally are lowered -and raised during an arc of movement ata rate equal to the travel of the` machine through the fieldl so that they do vnot exert a longitudinal drag on the plantsbut are simply raised with a vertical upward pull. This prevents 'damage to the plants while permitting an effective stripping of the cotton. The gangs are successively given a slight lateralmovement during their rotation whereby to vary their travel through the plants in order tothoroughly cover the plants being picked, while theindividual picker stems themselves are con. structed with special reference to preventing COTTON-HARVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 3, 1918, v Application filed January 9, 1915. Serial No. 1,446.

damage to the plantsV without sacrificing anything of efficiency in stripping the cot` I ton. These and various other, featuresv of advantage which will appear morefully hereinafter are secured by the machine forming the subject matter of the present invention.

-The construction and operation of my device will be more fully disclosedv in the specification that follows, Inthe drawings forming a part of that specification, `I have shown as an illustrative embodiment, a form of Fig. 2 is adetail view illustrating partic ularly the means for varying the gangs of picker stem'sfbothvlaterally and vertically,

and

picker which has proven satisfactory lin use and well illustratesthe yprinciples of my in Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the picker stems. p e

.ward tray. y

'Fig'. 6 is a detail of the oscillating cam.

I have. indicated at 1 the frame of a wheeled truck adapted to be drawn or propell'ed through the cotton field. The truck has front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3, which latter may have roughened treads to give proper traction. The various rotating parts of the machine are driven from the axle 4 of the wheels 3. l

The carrier for the picker ystem gangs rotates about a horizontal axis and is driven from the rear axle. In the form` of my invention selected as an illustration, this carrier consists of. a light open frame structure from which. the picker stem gangs are loosely hung for a fore and aft swing, 'relating to the line of travel of the harvester.

In the preferred form of my,v invention, the carrier consists of a series of four diagonalrods 5 arranged in the form of a square at each side of the machine and support a series`- of tie rods 51, Fig. 2, extending transversely of the machine. The rods 5 are braced by 'a series of radial rods'6 connecting the rods 5 at their points of interesction v'75 Fig. 5 is a plan view, omitting the for-l with each other. Allmodslmay. be simple i tubing connecting by suitable T, cross, or other fittings, or they may be light solid rods rigidly connected with each other. The rods 6 are received. in crosses 7 at their inner ends and the crosses 7 are keyed. on the main shaft S of the machine so as to be capable of slight longitudinal movement therealong.

The shaft 8 is jouin'aled at each side of the machine in'bearings 9 carried on the'upJ per ends of a pair of supporting rods .10. The rods 10 are received in suitable bosses 11 formed on curved' supporting members 12 rising from the sides of the frame 1. There an'adjustment for height of the picker stem vgangs is considereddesirable, the rods 10 are threaded near their upper ends and the bosses 11 have internal threads. Obviously,

Fast on cach of the bearingsI 9 for the shaft f 8 is the hub ofva segmental gear 1G which `successively meshes with a` series of similar gears 17 spaced equi-distantly about the shaft 8 on the rotating carrier whereby to successively reverse or invert each picker stem gang after the picking phase of its revolution for doiiing and to then restore said gangs to original position.

lt is desirable to impart a slight endwise movement to the picker stem gangs during the picking. phase of their revolution in order to shift the stem series laterally so as to completely cover all the aiea to be picked before the gangs are finally raised from the plants. This may eonvenientl \v be cliected by vibrating the carrier asa whole laterally. For this purpose, I mount or forni a cani 18 at one side of the cross 7, Fig. 2, on'the shaft 8 and a cam 18l on the fixed bearing- 9. The cam 1S has an undulating face forming a plurality'of cam points, in the present 'case7 four, which successively strike the spaced cam points of the iam 181 when the shaft S rotates. This Iauses asl'ight longitudinal movement of the cross 7. upon which the cam 18 is formed or bears, longitudinally along the shaft S and a corresponding movement of. the' carrier and thus the picker stem gangs end wise inward. The"endwise iilovement of the cross 7 ,is resisted by a springlll confined. about the, shaft 8 between the cross 7' and a en'dwise movement Aof the carrier 'and its gear segments 17, the gear segment 16 is of slightly greater width than the seginentsl'. d This prevents the segments 16 and 17 being thrown out of mesh during this movement..

The gangs of picker stems are loosely lsuspended from the rods 51 near their points of juncture with the rods '5. At each side of the machine, the rods llhave a pair of diverging rods 21 from which the picker stems are hung. The rods 21 have at their outer ends ttings which-support a plurality7 of longitudinally extending rods 22. The rods' Q2 have fittings v221 in whichare received a plurality of transversely extending rods v222.

The rods 222 have yokes 24 with rod holes 25 loosely depending therefrom into which are threaded or otherwise secured the upper ends of series of picker stems 23 which eX- tendin parallel rows transversely across the machine from sidev to side. prevented vfrom too free .tilting by a plurality of flat bars 26 arranged above their Ytop faces and extending transversely across The lyokes are l structed with special reference to preventpurpose of the pointed ferrules is to per? mit the stems to descend among the plants without breaking them, as would be the case where the stems were squared or Cylindrical at their lower ends. The upper faces of the members 2T are .serrated to provide annular series of substantially vertically upwardly directed teeth 29 which engage and separate the cotton iber from the bolls. This construction of pickerand the manner .of mounting the stem with a slight fore and aft swing on rods 222 limited by the yokes 21 engaging stop bars Q6 and a slight lateral 'play provides a construction which is sufvcarrier to turn :it-substantially the saine speed as the wheels.. The gangs of picker stems are therefore iirst lowered vertically among the plants and lthen drawn up iio p endwise movement is imparted tothe gangs by the cam 18 in orderto fully comb every plant within the area covered by the stems. The continued rotation ofthe carrierV raises the gang vertically tromainong the plants without drag and the gear segment 17 of that particular ang begins to mesh with the segment 16. his reverses or inverts the gang so that when the segments 16 and 17 are in the middle. portion of their engagement the gang is .Completely inverted for dofiing. The picker .stem gang is returned to its original position Ain the final phase of its revolution by the'segment 16.

The dofling of the cotton from the stems may vbe eiiected in any desired manner, asl

for example, by means of a. blower. For thispugrpose, IA support a blower head Q81 directly above the point where'the gangs will wholly, inverted. The head 281' is carriedby supponting members 29? fastened to the fixed segment 16, and is connected by a pipe 30 with a blower 3 1 on the frame of the machine.l The blower 31 is 4driven in' anyQsuitable manner, as by thepulleys 32 and 3i and the belt 33 connecting the blower shaft with the rear axle 4. The cotton doli'ed from the picker stem gangs is blowed downward from the points 29 of the inverted.

pickers into suitable receptacles 35 located 'below the gangs (when inverted). The re'- ceptacles 35 are substantially transverse troughs which are inclined outwardly' and direct 'the cotton -into a bag or other container (not shown) at the vside of the machine.

This cycle of operations is repeated, eachv picker stem gang being successively-lowered into, drawn up through the. plants, vibrated laterally during this phase, raised vertically, inverted, dofi'ed andinallyrestored-to original position in its final phase of rotation. Inasmuch as'the gangs are rotated at aspeed equal to the speed of the wheels ofthe machine, an unduedrag on the plants is prevented.

Various modiications in thc forinz'iand construction of my device may obviously be resorted to within the limits of the appended claims. f What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. In a 'cotton harvester, an invertible, traveling gangof relatively freely swinging cotton picking devices, and-means for 'inverting said gang during aphase ot its travel.

2. In a cotton harvester, a rotating carrier, a plurality of gangs of cotton picking devices rotatingtherewith and each gang free-ly pivoted thereon, and means for successively' inverting said gangs during a phase'of their -rotation with the carrier.

' phase.'

3 3. In a cotton harvesten-*arotating can rier, a gang of Acotton pickingdevices rotating therewith, means `for inverting saidgang during a phase of itsrotation, and pneumatic means for doiiing cotton from the' picking devices ofsai'd gang `during said inverting phase.

phase in which itswings-freely on the carrler, an inverting phase, and a restoring phase, and means for imparting vibratory movements to said gan'gjduring saidpicking y 5.- .In a cotton harvester, a rotating carrier, yand a gangof'fcott'on picking devices pivotally mountedA thereon and. rotating therewith and having a picking. Phase, an

inverting anda restoring phase, a cam for impartingvibra'tory movements to said car-.` rier during said .picking phase.

.6. In a cotton harvester, a` r'otatingca'r'- rier, and a gang of'cottori 'picking devices freely pivoted thereon 'and' rotatingatherewith and having-a cycle; including a vertically raisingphase, 'anv inverted phase, and a" restoring phase and means vforcausing said device to move in said cycle,'y and -means vfor imparting lateral vibratorymove'ments to said-carrier during saidlowering and raising phases. 'f

7'. In a cotton harvester, a, 'rotating.car

rier, and a gang of cotton pickingv devices rotating therewithand carried thereby through' a vertically 'lowering gravitating phase, a vertically raising gravitatlng phase,

an inverting phase', and a restoring phase,

means for imparting endwi'se movements to I saidgang during said lowering and raising phases, and 4means .for doiiing'cotton. from the picking devices of said gang during said inverting phase. 8. In afcotton harvester. a wheeled frame, Ya rotating carrier thereon, a picker stem gang swingingly and invertibly mounted on said carrier, and means for Arotating said iio `carrier at a speed substantially equal .tothe speed ot the wheels of said trame so that the pickers enterand leave a bush substantially without longitudinal change of positifn duei tothe advance of the vehicle.

9. In a cotton harvester, a wheeled frame, a carrier on the frame rotated about a transverse horizontal axis, and a picker stem gang :pivoted -to freely swing in .a vertical position thereon, means toV invert the gang on its pivot\ n the carrier, and means for moving said gai/g rearwardly -at a speed substantially eqnal to the speed ofthe 'wheels of the traina/whereby the pickers are moved up "and down in a substantially,vertical planel while picking.

f 10. In acotton harvester, a wheeled frame,

speed of the Wheels of said frame, means for successively inverting said gangs during a phase of their rot-atiomand pneumatic means for successively doiiing cotton from saidV gangs during said inverting phase.

11. In a cotton harvester, a Wheeled frame, `a rotating carrier thereon, a plurality ot invertiblepioker stem gangs rotatively and freely suspended on-sald carrier, means for rotating said carrier ata speed substantially equal to 'thespeed of the wheels of said frame, means for imparting lateral vibratory movements to said carrier during the picking phase, meansfor successively in 'verting said gangs during a subsequent phase of 'their rotation, and means for doti"- ing cotton from 'said gangs during their inverting phase. V

12. In a cotton harvester, a wheeled trame,

a rotating carrier thereon, a plurality ot picker stem gangs freely pivoted on said carrier and rotative therewith, meansl for imparting lateral vibratory niovements to said carrier during the picking phase, means for successivelyy inverting said gangs on the carrier during a subsequent phase oi their rotation, and means .for doling .cotton from said gangs while in an inverted position.

18. In a cotton lm'rvcstcr. a wheeled trame, a rotating carrier thereon. a plurality of gravitating picker stem gangs connected to said carrier. means Jfor rotating said carrier at a speed substantially equalto the speed of the Wheels of'said frame, means for successively inverting said gangs upon the carrier during a phase of their rotation. and means for clotting cotton from said gangs during their inverting phase.

14. In a cotton harvester, a wheeled trame. a rotating carrier thereon. a plurality ot invertible picker stem gangs pivoted on said carrier and movable vertically to and from picking position. means forrotating said carrier at a speed substantially,equal to the speed of the wheels of said trame. means for 4successively inverting said gangs during a phase of theirrot-ation with the carrier, a

blower head effectively disposed for succes-- sively dofiing cotton from said gangs during their inverting phase. and a blower operatively connected with said head.

15. In a cotton harvester. a plurality ot independent rotatable gravitatiug gan ot' depending cotton-picking devices. an inverting element, and a plurality of elements rotating with said gangs and arranged for successive engagement with said inverting element whereby to successively invertsaid gangs. l

16. In e cotton harvester, a plurality of' rotatable freely swinging gangs of cotton picking devices, a .Jixe-d element., a pluralityr of inif'ertible elements rotating with said gangs and arranged for successive engage ment with said fixed element whereby to successively invert said gangs, and means tor imparting lateral viln'atory movements to said gangs during their pickingV phase.

17. In a cotton harvester. a plurality oft" gangs ofcotton picking devices. an inverting element,` a' plurality of invertible elements rotating with said gangsand arranged for successive engagement with said inverting element whereby to successively' invert said gangs, means for imparting endwise m vements to said gangs 'during their picking phase, and means for doti'ing said gangs duringtheir inverting phase.

18. In a cotton harvester, a wheeled trame.-

a driven shaft. a carrier rotating with said shaft., a reversing element` a plurality ot 1nvertible elements rotating with said carrier vertible elements rotating with said carrier and successively engaging with said reversing element during a phase. of their revolution, a plurality of invert-ible picker stem gangs mounted onsaid carrier and successively inverted b'y the engagement of said elements, means for imparting endwise movement to said gangs during a phase of their revolution. and means for successively doliing cotton from said gangs during said inverting phase.

20. In a cotton harvester. a wheeled frame. a driven shaft.. a carrier rotating with said shaft, means for 'adjusting said carrier vertically. a reversing gear element. a pluralityT of invertible gear elements rotating with said carrierand successively meshing with said reversing element. during a phase of' their revolution, a plurality of invertible picker stem gangs mounted on said carrier and successively inverted by the engagement of said gear elements.y a cam on said shaft tor imparting endwise movement to said gangs arms (6) and a Dluralityof dia onal brace members for connectii'igsai arms, and

//a series of parallel pivot shafts. (51) journaled in the junctions of said braces-(5) and.

larms (6) for carrying the gangs (23).

22,. In a cotton harvester, a carrier for a plurality of picker stem gangs (23) con.

sisting of a reel-like open frame composed of 'a plurality of connected end members (6 7 al plurality of brace 'members (5) for said end members, and sets of ltriangular frames. (21) pivoted at the points of juncture of said endmem'bers and from which .said picker stems are`suspended.

i `to have to'and fro movement thereon parval'lel to the path of travel.

24. In a cottonnharvester, a carrierfro- 23. In a cotton harvester, a rotating car- .rier having its axis transverse .to the path of travel of the harvester, and cottonpicking stems connected to said carrier so as tating on an axis transverse to the Apath of travel of the harvester, a frame swingingly connected to said carrier and parallel therewith and adapted for toa'nd fro motionthereon parallel to -the path of travel, said` frame including'a pair of parallel side rods and a series of parallel suspension rods connected at their ends to said rods,rand picker stems pivotall mounted in sets upon said.

suspension ro' s.-

25. In a cotton harvester, a rotating carrier, a'pair of spaced end frames swingingly suspended thereon, transverse parallel suspension rods mounted on said end frames, a `plurality of, picker stems pivotally mounted .upon said suspension rods, and

means for limiting the swinging action. of saidstems on their supporting rods.

26. In a cotton` havester,a plurality of rotatable gangs of lcotton picking devices having'successively a picking phase, an in- Ve'rtingphase, and arestoring phase,` a reversing element, a plurality of invertible elements rotating with said gangs and ar.-

ranged for successive engagement with vsaid reversing element, whereby to successively invert said gangs and then to successively-1 restore them to original position, means for imparting lateral vibratory movements to @said gangs during said picking phase, and .-"`mealns forsucc'essively doiiing cotton from said gangs during their inverting phase.

27. I'na cotton harvester, a plurality of rotatable gangs of..cott'on picking devices vhaving 4successively a vertically lowering phase, a vertically raising phase, an inverting phase, and a restoring phase, a reversing` ylelement, a plurality ofinvertible elements rotating with said gangs and arranged for successive engagement with said reversingelement, ,whereby to successively invert said gangs and then to successively restore them Atooriginal position, a cam for imparting lateral vibratory movements to said gangs during their lowering and raising phases,

and means for sucessively doiiing cotton from said gangs during their inverting phase. .fff

28. In a cotton. harvester a plurality of rotatable gangs of cotton picking ldevices having successively a vertically lowering phase, a vertically raising phase, an inverting'phase, and a restoring phase, a reversing gear segment, a plurality of invertible gear segments rotating with said gangs and arranged for success'iveengagement with said reversing gear segment whereby to succes- -sively invert said gangs and then to successively restore them to original position,

means 'for imparting lateral vibratory movements to said gangs during their lowering `and .raising phases, and pneumatic mea'ns for doliing cotton from said gangsduring their .inverting phase. l

29. Ina cotton harvester, a wheel a carrier rotatingthereon at a speed-equal v to the speed of. the wheels o'fsaid frame, a

reversing element, a plurality of invertible .elements arranged. for successive .engagement ity of.

with saidreversing'element, a plura gangs of cotton picking devices mounted onV said carrier vand successively inverted by the engagement of said invertible elements with said reversing element, said gangs having a vertically lowering and vertically raising picking phase,"means for imparting ed frame vibratory movements to said gangs during rier,'a plurality of yokes loosely suspended therefrom, a pluralityof picker stems connected with said yokes, and a plurality of transverse bars ar-ranged aboveA said yokes and 'effective to preventv tilting thereof .beyonda predetermined point.

.32. In a cotton harvester, a series of traveling gangs of invertible cotton picking stems vwith picking units, means for invertton while said gangsare in inverted fallinV therefrom.

n a cotton harvester, -a plurality of l ingthe gangs, .means to doii thepic'ked cotv osition, and means disposed below the position 4of the inverted stems to collect the cotton.

.parallel movably connected gangs yof picker stems each movable through a cycl'e includinga picking 4phase and a dofhng phase, the .gangs being in vertical positions respectively in said phases', and means interposed between thev "gangs of stems in the pickingV phase and those Ain the doing phase t'o receive the picked` Cotton fnlhng from' the dofn? stems.

parallel, inovnblv Connectedgnngs of picker stems, means for successively moving the gangs i-11 veiticni position down in'i'o und up through cottonhnshes, means fof sncoessivelvv .i'l'iverting't'ho gangs of" Steins to4 

